Ex-Santa Cruz County officer sentenced to 5 years

NOGALES, Ariz. -- A former Santa Cruz County law enforcement officer has
been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to a criminal
charge for his role in a marijuana smuggling conspiracy.

The Nogales International reports that 46-year-old Pio
Martin Ahumada of Rio Rico received the sentence on Dec. 17.

He had pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute marijuana.

Ahumada and two other men were accused of possessing with intent to distribute
about 500 pounds of marijuana near Nogales on April 26, 2009.

Ahumada is a former Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputy and Nogales police
officer.

He was fired by the city in 2003 after he was accused of assaulting another
officer, but was acquitted of an assault charge filed in the incident.